Locations - House of Peter in Bethsaida

Jesus leaves Capernaum and goes to Bethsaida. Peter welcomes him and invites him to stay in his house. Christ accepts, and Simon de Jonas is delighted. Jesus retires to pray, and later goes outside. He meets a few children, including one who doesn't want to play at war. Jesus supports his point of view, explaining that war is God's punishment. When the kids point out that the kid refuses because he always loses, Jesus smiles and declares that we shouldn't refuse something when it harms us: that's selfishness. You should refuse something when it harms everyone, even if you're sure you'll win. The conversation continues, and Jesus speaks to them for a moment about the Last Judgment and the approaching Redemption, drawing on the book of Nehemiah. The children recognize that he is the Messiah, and he promises to take them with him if they are good and obedient to their parents.

Philip comes to him and Jesus invites him to follow. The apostle accepts, and Jesus tells him about Nathanael. The old man goes to fetch Bartholomew, and everything goes according to the Gospel.

Jesus then goes to Bethsaida to preach. The Savior comes to reiterate the law of the Decalogue, which was simple in the beginning. Nothing else is needed, and the Messiah enjoins us above all to love. He even encourages us to love our enemies.

When the sermon is over, Jesus says he's going to Jerusalem. Peter is torn, but decides to follow the Master. James of Zebedee, Andrew, Philip and Nathanael embark. Jesus accepts them, and the group prays together. Christ then sends them away, explaining that he will continue to pray during this time. The Son of Man needs prayer to continue to be the Redeemer.

Jesus is at Peter's house, with Simon of Jonah, James, John and Porphyria. Andrew arrives, indicating that Jude is there for him, and his cousin enters the house. Mary invites her Son to the wedding feast at Cana, and their relatives also want him to attend. Jesus agrees to his Mother's request, but then guesses that something is wrong with Jude. He questions him and Jude half-heartedly declares that Jesus must be careful, because of the powerful castes who might be disturbed by his teaching. He mentions the Baptist, but we also sense that he is paying lip service. Moreover, Jesus guesses that it was their kinsmen who told him to say this, which Jude confirms. But Jesus asserts that above the earth, there is Heaven and God's interests. As for his Mother, only she could remind him of his duties as a Son, but she does not. She renounced her creatureliness from the very beginning, and Jesus recalls her life in the Temple, praising her detachment and self-giving to God. The Lord also predicts that there will come a day when all will abandon Him, but not Her, and it is thanks to Mary that the apostles will return to Jesus. He wants us to understand how powerful Mary is on God's heart.

As a result, Jude asks to accompany her to the wedding feast at Cana. He gives him a garment designed by the All-Holy One, which Jesus will put on in Jerusalem, at the Temple.

Chapter title: The parable of the sower. At Chorazeïn with Elijah, the new disciple.

Date of vision: Monday, June 4, 1945

Calendar: Monday, February 21, 28 (8 Adar I 3788) according to maria-valtorta.org or Wednesday, March 1, 28 according to Valtorta.fr

Locations (map):Bethsaida, then Chorazeïn. Jesus then returns to Bethsaida, to Peter's house.

Cycle: Apostolate in Galilee

Summary: Jesus gives a little dictation to explain why the city no longer appears to be on the shores of the lake, but inland. This is explained by the twenty centuries of alluvial deposits brought down by the river and the scree that came down from the Bethsaida hills. Then the vision begins, and Maria sees Jesus and the Twelve land in Bethsaida. They go to her house in Bethsaida, which is not her mother-in-law's in Capernaum. Porphyria is also there.

Peter is very happy, but very grumpy, because they're asking for the Master, and the apostle would like to have him all to himself. He finally confesses that he feels he has retained nothing of Jesus' teachings. When he hears him, he understands everything, but afterwards he remembers nothing, and thinks with terror of the moment when Christ will leave them. The other apostles back him up. Jesus then testifies that every word once planted a seed. A little later, he even evokes the future Pentecost and the eternal Spirit. In the meantime, he asks the apostolic group to take advantage of their private moment to question him, so that he can explain his Word to them. He then takes his leave, bowing to Porphyria to go and speak to those waiting for him.

Jesus then returns briefly to the three men who approached him, in EMV 178, saying that the one whose heart was truly prepared was the one who lost his father. Heroism explains strong spiritual preparation: the most prepared, whatever their caste or culture, come to the Savior with absolute readiness and faith; the least prepared observe Christ as something out of the ordinary; still others denigrate him with various accusations. The chosen people should welcome the Messiah, since they have been prepared by the prophets and see the Redeemer's miracles. But unfortunately, they fight against Him, and in the end it's the pagans who welcome Him. Because the Israelites are saturated with their own wisdom, and don't know how to welcome Christ's wisdom, by accepting what is necessary. The others have no anchor, but rather burdens of error and sin, which they willingly abandon. To explain the different fruits of the same labor, Jesus gives the Gospel parable of the sower.

Jesus then walks away with Peter. He then talks to Elijah of Capernaum, the man who did not bury his father. The latter tells of his mother weeping for her husband, and Jesus decides to go to Chorazeïn, where his new disciple's family is staying. On the way, they see Isaac the Adult, who preached Jesus to Elijah, and the Lord thanks him for his apostolate. He then urges Elijah's brothers to make peace with their younger brother, and their mother helps the Lord to do so. Then they all leave, and the young man follows his Savior.

Chapter contents: 179.1: Jesus comments on the situation in Bethsaida at the time. 179.2: Arrival at Peter's house: he regrets not having Jesus to himself. 179.3: He complains that he listens happily to what Jesus says, but retains nothing. 179.4: Riding in a boat, Jesus comments to the crowd on the varied welcome given to those who wanted to follow him. 179.5: The parable of the sower: the grain that fell on good soil. 179.6: The grain that fell on other kinds of soil. 179.7: Jesus walks towards the bereaved family of the new disciple, in Chorazeïn. 179.8: Jesus thanks Isaac of Chorazeïn, who informs Elijah that his mother has understood his departure. 179.9: Jesus prays at the tomb of Elijah's father. He justifies Elijah's conduct in returning with him to Bethsaida.

Old edition: Tome 3, chapter 39

Chapter title: Discussion in Peter's kitchen in Bethsaida. Explanation of the parable of the sower. News of John the Baptist's second capture.

Date of vision: Thursday, June 7, 1945

Calendar: Monday, February 21, 28 (8 Adar I 3788) according to maria-valtorta.org or Wednesday, March 1, 28 according to Valtorta.fr

Locations (map):Bethsaida

Cycle: Apostolate in Galilee

Summary: The apostolic group has just had a hearty meal at Peter's house. Porphyria, who must have been preparing it all day, is tired but happy. The apostles discuss among themselves the pride of certain individuals, and Peter predicts that they will treacherously attack the Truth. Thomas wonders if they'll have the strength to resist, and Peter says he wouldn't have it on his own, but trusts in the Lord. Matthew and James of Alphaeus believe that the trial will be proportionate to their strength, and that God will increase theirs according to the battle to be waged. Simon the Zealot then gives his testimony, declaring that it was during his illness that he came to know God. Before that, his faith was nothing but formalism. When he was crushed, he knew how to demolish his ego and encounter the "immanent God above our earthly beings".

Judas rebounds from his statement, for it seems to him that Simon is speaking heresy. The Iscariot argues that we know God through the Law and the prophets, but Israel is more a son of the laws than a Son of the Law, according to Jude. Simon, for his part, explains that we need to have an image of God, with the essential qualities we attribute to the Most High. And the more the soul advances, the more it achieves an exact knowledge of God. Peter supports this, asserting that we then know not only his terrible majesty, but also his very gentle fatherhood. He concludes that we must imitate God as much as possible and be holy like the Father, which offends Judas, who sees it as pride.

Jesus then intervenes and repeats the phrase: "Be perfect as your Father is perfect". Porphyria is pleased with the compliment, and Peter asks for an explanation of the parable of the sower. Christ then prefaces by explaining that much is given to the apostles, for they must understand the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven. The Twelve give everything to God, so God gives everything to them too. As for the others, the Lord speaks to them in parables, so that they may hear and understand the Word according to their willingness to adhere to God. For few of those who hear God adhere to Him: Israel's heart is closed. As for the prophets, they too returned to darkness after God had given them the light to understand the prophecies. But Jesus reiterates his promise that, even if Peter is unable to retain his word, the eternal Spirit will later enlighten him and his successors, "if they live by God as their only bread".

Now comes the explanation of the parable. There are honest men of good will, prepared "by their own work and that of an apostle". Their fields are fertile and the word of God prospers. Then there are the thorny fields: carelessness "has let penetrate the tangles of personal interests that choke the good seed. They have let themselves go and are no longer watched. There are still fields full of stones. They are "sons of laws", meaning they cultivate all human laws. They create a shell for divine law. The root is no longer nourished and cannot penetrate deep into the earth. They are enthusiastic when they hear the Word, but then they replace it with their human doctrines. It would take heroism to remove these stones. Finally, there are the virgin fields of all weeks are those of the selfish men of the world. "Comfort is their law, enjoyment their goal. Not to tire, to slumber, to laugh, to eat... The spirit of the world is king in them."

Jesus asks if they've understood, and soon after that, John arrives at Peter's house, in tears. Jesus immediately asks where his Mother is - for she was accompanying Zebedee's son - and John assures him that she is well, but he paradoxically tells him of John the Baptist's arrest. He has been betrayed by one of his disciples and caught by Herod. It's a thunderclap for the apostolic troupe, and John is afraid the same thing might happen to the Master. For the time being, Jesus calms him down, and although he controls himself, he suffers. So he goes off to pray, while the apostles are inflamed with anger and sadness. They now fear all things for the Lord and keep watch.

Chapter contents: 180.1: The apostles talk about the coming persecutions and God's support. 180.2: The Zealot talks about his conversion to God. 180.3: Discussion of the notion of an immanent God between the Zealot and Judas. 180.4: Jesus congratulates Peter and Simon the Zealot. 180.5: Why do you speak in parables? 180.6: Explanation of the parable of the sower. 180.7: John emerges dismayed to announce the capture of the Baptist by one of his disciples. 180.8: John fears the same will happen to Jesus. 180.9: The circumstances of the arrest. 180.10: Jesus goes out alone. The fearful apostles keep watch.

Previous edition: Tome 3, chapter 40